How would you like some very rich and powerful person to say this to you; “Ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you”? (verse 7.) This could come true for you as it did in this true story, and it is not just some gimmick or gamble!
Our Teacher, the Lord Jesus Christ, uses this illustration. “I am The Vine; you are the branches.” (verse 5.)
The words “I am the vine” were not some kind of magic formula that changed who or what Jesus was! Jesus did not change into a tree! At other times He said, “I am the Door.” (John 10:9.) “I am the Light.” (John 12:8.) “I am the Bread.” (John 6:35.) “I am the Shepherd.” (John 10:11.) Each time teaching us that He Himself is the only One who is able to meet our various spiritual needs.
JESUS NEVER CHANGED HIMSELF INTO ANY OF THESE THINGS - yet some people want to believe Jesus did change into bread, and can be eaten! What a horrible non-Christian belief! (John 6:62-69. 1stCorinthians 8:8.) Bread and wine are to be taken by those who love and trust Jesus to REMIND them of His body and blood, but NEVER to BECOME His body and blood! (1stCorinthians 11:24. & Acts 15:28-29.)
Jesus also said, “I am the Way.” (John 14:6.) Surely no-one thinks He meant people to walk over or through Him! NO! This was just a clear illustration to teach a very important, but very unpopular truth about Himself - that He is the ONLY ONE who can bring us to God and get us to Heaven. (Acts 4:12. 1stPeter 3:18.) No wonder the priests didn't want the people to understand or believe His message!! (John 11:47-48.)
Jesus wants all those who trust in Him alone for forgiveness to think of themselves as being like branches, joined to Him as the true Vine. (verse 5.) He said, “Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.”
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit.” (verses 4-5.) You see, genuine Christians need to depend on Jesus day by day to make them able to produce in their lives those things that are pleasing to God. He tells us clearly, “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” (verse 5)
Jesus’ true followers use God's Word, the Holy Bible, to instruct and correct their lives. (verse 3. 2ndTimothy 3:15-16. Acts 17:11.) To them Jesus made this wonderful promise: “If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you.” (verse 7)
Each branch of a vine will draw all it needs from the vine in order to produce grapes. So too the genuine Christian is taught to draw from Christ by just ASKING for whatever he or she needs to be able to live a life that will glorify God. (verse 4. Ephesians 3:16-21.) Ask for Christlike fruit to abound in your life! (Hebrews 13:20-21.)
Read about these fruitful branches in John’s Gospel chapter 15, verses 1-8.
John Nixon, Cork, Ireland. P31HD98. Contact: jnixonj@gmail.com
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